Understanding Islam’s Practices

and Beliefs

2011

We need to understand Muslims

To do that, we need to look at their:

• Practices (Deen - 5)

• Beliefs (Iman - 6)

1. Shahada(statement of faith)

• “La ilah illa llah” (‘there is no god but Allah’) (Sura 2:255; 28:88; 112:1-4)

• “Wa Muhammadu rasul u’llah” (‘and Muhammad is Allah’s messenger’) (Sura 33:40; 48:29; 64:8)

• Why not complete until 9th c. (Bukhari–870 AD)?

• Jehuda Nevo’s Sinai Inscriptions (691 ->)

• Why do they say it?

Obedience

Piety:– at birth (right ear, then left)– at conversion (after a ritual bath)– and at death

Who is ‘Allah’?• ‘Allah’

• Distant

• Impersonal

• ‘Hubal’

• ‘Al-Lat’ (S.53:19-20)

• ‘Al-Mannat’

• ‘Al-Uzza’

• ‘Yahweh’

(Ex.3:14-16; Jn.8:58)

• Immanent

• Personal

Who is Muhammad?

Prophet?

4 Reasons against:

-What was his Race?

-What did he do?

-What did he say?

-Who was his god?

Prophecied?-Deut. 18:15-20-Song of Solomon 5:16-Isaiah 21 & 42-John 14 & 16

2. Salat(prayers)

• Meccan period: 2 prayers

(sura 17:78)

Fajr (morning)

and Maghrib (evening)

• Medinan period: 3 prayers (sura 2:238)

added Zuhr (midday)

(11:114; 20:130; 30:17-18;

50:39-40; 52:48-49)

In Hadith (al Bukhari) we find the five prayers:

• fajr = morning

• Zuhr = midday

• Ashr = late afternoon

• Maghrib = after sunset

• Isha = before midnight

‘Alahu Akbar’ ‘Fatihah’

‘Ruku’ ‘Sujud’

‘jalsah’

• 7 other occasions: Friday, Eid (‘Eid al-Fitr’ - Ramadan, ‘Eid al-Adha’ - feast), funeral, traveling, eclipse, Istisqa’ (for rain), Tajahud (night vigil)

• Said after ablutions (hands, mouth, nose, face, forearms, hair, ears, & feet)

• Better in public, on mats, separate from women.

• Towards the Qibla - Mecca.

• The call ‘Adhan’, by a muezzin (freed slave ‘Bilal’ was the first)

• Salat = ritual, Du’a = personal

3. Sawm(Fasting)

• Sura 2:183-187 (at ninth month, same as day of Ashura, or Jewish day of Atonement)

-29-30 days during which entire Qur’an is recited-Commences and ends by comparing 2 threads.-No eating, swallowing one’s saliva, or sexual

intercourse during daylight-Not for sick, travelers, or women during

menstruation, pregnancy or nursing.-Eid al-Fitr = feast of breaking the fast, for 4 days,

new clothes, presents, visits….

• Compare Muslim fast with Isaiah 58

• Compare the purpose of fasting

• Compare the outcome of fasting

• Compare the relational aspect of fasting

4. Zakat (tithing)

• Sura 2:43, 110, 177, 277; 9:5

• 2.5% paid once a year (cash, savings, jewelry, etc...)

• usually to a mosque, or to the govt.

• given to: poor, destitute, collectors, travelers, mujahidin, those in bondage

• Zakat vs. ‘Jizyah’ & ‘Kharaj’ taxes

5. Hajj (pilgrimage)Day 1- Ka’bah

• 7 circumambulations

• du’a & 2 raka’at prayers at Abraham’s imprint

• Zam-zam Well

• Sa’y = 7 times between Safa and Marwah

• lock of hair, then night in Mina

Day 2 - Wuquf (standing) at Arafat = prayers, and stay standing till sunset either at Arafat or on Mount of Mercy, no hat, but parasol is advised, then night at Muzdalifah.

Day 3 - Sacrifice = gathers 49 or 70 pebbles at Muzdalifah, goes to Mina, throws pebbles at Jamarats (7 each), sacrifices (camel, ox or ram), hair shaved or clipped, return to Mecca.

Days 4-6 - at Mina, throws 7 stones each day at each of three Jamarat, meets and talks...

Crowds at Mecca

The New Ka’aba Sanctuary

Beliefs (Iman)

1) Belief in God

–Allah vs. Yahweh

–Distant vs. Personal

–Tawhid vs. Trinity

2) Belief in the Prophets• 124,000 total • 24 listed – All in the line of Isaac (Except Muh.)• Ibrahim, Moise, Dawuda, Issa, & Muh.• Formulaic:

-Commissioned-Confronts his people-Rejected-People destroyed-Prophet saved

• 4 Rules of Prophetic Office-Prophetic line-Prophetic or Miracles-Prophecies coincide-Know God’s name

3) Belief in the Books

• Tawrut, Zabuur, Injil, Qur’an

• All from the archetypal

‘Mother of Books’

Suras 39:9; 43:4

• Sura 85:22 (duality + 50:16 = trinity)

Problems:

• No early Manuscripts

• Contradictions, Errors, Compilations

• Talmudic & Sectarian Sources

4) Belief in Angels

• Gibril, Mikhael (from light)

• Israfil (resurrection), Israil (death)

• Iblis (Satan) 7 references to his sin• Jinn & Devils [from fire] (6:100, 112; 15:27; 34:41; 38:37;

46:18, 29; 55:15, 33, 39; 72:1-15)

• Recording Angels

• Role: -Protect Allah’s transcendence

–Provide Revelation

5) Belief in Predestination

• Allah controls all

(Sura 4:60; 17:175; 25:29)

• Leads astray (Sura 7:178-179)

• Deterministic vs. Free Will

• Kismet & ‘Inshallah’

• Responsibility for guilt?

6) Belief in the Judgment• Good/Bad Deeds weighed

• Sirat bridge • Only a hope, no assurance (except ‘Shahid’ = S.4:74 &

47:4-6)

Paradise In the Qur’an:A Beautiful Garden:• Surah 55 :26 two gardens • Surah 56:12 Garden of delights• Surah 56: 31 water flowing constantly, fruit in plentyWith Female and Male Servants:• Surah 55: 56 chaste females whom no man has been with• Surah 55: 70 fair and beautiful women• Surah 55: 72 - 74 Hûr - beautiful, fair females, guarded in

pavilions - virgins• Surah 56:22 Hûr, with wide, lovely eyes• Surah 55: 76 reclining on green cushions and beautiful

mattresses• Surah 56 : 34-38 on couches or thrones raised high, a

special creation, and made them virgins, loving...• Surah 56:17 immortal boys will go around, serving with

cups...flowing wine

• Carnal, Male dominated Paradise (Suras 55-56)

• Man/Woman can fall again

• God is not present